Fireproof hard drives unveiled by Sentry

Rochester-based safe manufacturer Sentry Group and California hard drive maker Maxtor Storage Solutions have created a series of hard drives that protect data from physical damage from fire or water as well as from computer crashes and theft.

The two firms unveiled a pair of hard drives during a Consumer Electronics Show preview event this week held in New York City. The hard drives contain Maxtor-made hard drives inside Sentry-made enclosures that protect from fire and water. According to Sentry, the enclosures are fully submersible for up to 24 hours and offer fire protection for 30 minutes up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit.

The 160-gigabyte Sentry hard drive has a suggested retail price of $320, with the 80-gigabyte version carrying a suggested retail price of $260.